Sky, Universal In Exclusive Multi-Year Content Deal For UK, Ireland

In a blow to comers Netflix and Lovefilm, the UK’s Sky has entered a new multi-year deal with NBCUniversal International Television Distribution that will give it exclusive rights to current, upcoming and library film titles for its Sky Movies service. The pact will give customers an exclusive first window to Universal films after their theatrical runs for at least a year. Titles covered include The Bourne Legacy, Snow White And The Huntsman, Ted and, down the road, Les Miserables, Anna Karenina and Despicable Me 2. All movies will also be available on Sky’s recently-launched video on demand service Now TV.

The deal comes on the heels of September’s exclusive arrangement with Warner Bros. for recent and upcoming titles. That extended agreement was Sky’s first with a Hollywood major since Netflix appeared on the scene at the beginning of 2012. It was also the first pact announced with a major after the UK’s Competition Commission confirmed this summer that the News Corp-controlled Sky does not have a material advantage over its rivals in the first window pay-TV arena. These latest agreements mean that Sky retains exclusive first window rights to films from all of the Hollywood majors. Netflix and Amazon-owned Lovefilm have first window deals in place with other studios including Lionsgate and also work in subsequent windows with many of the majors and minimajors.

Sky has also entered a separate agreement with Universal Networks International to extend the availability of its TV channels on Sky’s subscription TV packages. That deal gives Sky customers access to NBCU programming across a portfolio of channels that includes the Universal Channel, E! Entertainment Television, Syfy and The Style Network.